Two particles A and B of masses m1 and m2 are moving in opposite directions with velocities v1 and v2 respectively. What is the total angular momentum of the system about the origin?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
Two particles A and B of masses m1 and m2 are moving in opposite directions with velocities v1 and v2 respectively. What is the total angular momentum of the system about the origin?
m1v1 + m2v2
m1v1 - m2v2
m1v1 + m2(-v2)
m1v1 + m2v2
Total angular momentum L = m1v1 + m2(-v2) = m1v1 - m2v2.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: Two particles A and B of masses m1 and m2 are moving in opposite directions with velocities v1 and v2 respectively. What is the total angular momentum of the system about the origin?
Solution: Total angular momentum L = m1v1 + m2(-v2) = m1v1 - m2v2.
Steps: 8
Step 1: Understand that angular momentum is a measure of the amount of rotation an object has, which depends on its mass and velocity.
Step 2: Identify the two particles: Particle A with mass m1 moving with velocity v1, and Particle B with mass m2 moving with velocity v2 in the opposite direction.
Step 3: Recognize that since Particle B is moving in the opposite direction, we can represent its velocity as -v2.
Step 4: Write the formula for the total angular momentum (L) of the system, which is the sum of the angular momentum of both particles.
Step 5: For Particle A, the angular momentum is m1 * v1.
Step 6: For Particle B, since it is moving in the opposite direction, its angular momentum is m2 * (-v2).
Step 7: Combine the angular momentum of both particles: L = m1 * v1 + m2 * (-v2).
Step 8: Simplify the equation: L = m1 * v1 - m2 * v2.
